“The municipality of Vila Real is the only one in the north that, until the end of 2023 and in light of the law that was in effect until the end of 2023, did not have delegation of powers in the field of health,” said socialist Rui Santos.
The mayor explained that the municipality refused to assume competencies in the field of health, within the scope of decentralization, because it was already known that a ULS would be established, with its headquarters at the Vila Real Hospital.
The ULS in Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro was created on January 1, as a result of the merger of the Hospital Center of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro and the groups of health centers in Douro Norte, Douro Sul, Alto Tâmega and Barroso, with an area of influence of 21 municipalities.
“Now, considering that as of January we had ULS, we thought it was not worth receiving these health skills,” he said.
“The law that was in effect until the end of 2023 stipulates that municipalities that are included in the ULS cannot obtain these powers,” the mayor noted.
However, if this law is changed, the municipality will analyze whether it is worth it or not and whether it can provide a better service.
“The Vila Real Chamber believes that it is worth obtaining skills only if we are able to do more and better than the central state,” he stressed.
Regarding the ULS in Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, the mayor warned of what he considered to be a “lack of definition in the law” regarding which entity must summon municipalities to a meeting where a council representative is appointed from among the board members.
The 21 municipalities in the ULS' area of influence do not correspond to a single inter-municipal community, but are spread across the Douro, Alto Tamega and Barroso CIMs.
The ULS Board of Directors maintained the elements that were already in place in CHTMAD, but still had to appoint a representative chosen by the municipalities in this area.
“Within the scope of the ULS, the law stipulates that municipalities meet and are able to nominate someone to the board, but there is a problem, it does not say who sets the date of the meeting, it does not explain how it will carry out these elections and who actually has the authority to call the meeting at which these elections will be held said Rui Santos.
The Socialist mayor said that clarifications were awaited before appointing a person to represent municipalities on the ULS board, and pointed to “a gap regarding how to do this.”
“Until the matter is clarified, we are here in a state of uncertainty. I hope that the 21 mayors can come to an understanding, that they can all be on the same day and at the same time in a meeting, that there can be proposals and votes and that there can be There must be a person nominated by the municipalities.”
Lusa asked the Ministry of Health for clarification, but has not yet received a response.
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